The Story A power hungry race of barbaric warriors, the Saiyans, struck fear into the universe by wiping out planets worth inhabitation, in order to sell the planets to alien races who were looking for a new home. The Saiyans homeworld, Vegeta, was destroyed by Frieza, a powerful being who feared the Saiyans potential. The only survivors were three members of the Saiyan Elite - Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz, and another who was on Earth - Kakarot. Kakarot was sent to Earth as an infant to destroy all life on Earth, since its inhabitants were weak. After taking a nasty fall, Kakarot lost his memories along with his Saiyan killer instinct, and became Earth's hero instead of its destroyer, and named Goku by the kind old man who had found him - Gohan.

Vegeta sent Raditz to Earth to get Goku, needing all the manpower they could get ever since their race was wiped out. Goku refused, and with the help of his former nemesis Piccolo (Originally from planet Namek), killed Raditz. Vegeta and Nappa eventually came to Earth to get their hands on the Dragon Balls, powerul energy spheres scattered across the globe which summoned the Eternal Dragon to grant any wish once retrieved and brought together. Vegeta's plan was to get all the Dragon Balls and wish himself and Nappa immortality. After killing most of the special forces, they met defeat soon after Goku arrived from his place of training at King Kai's.

Although Goku did win, Piccolo was destroyed in the process of saving Gohan (Goku's Son) from a deadly energy blast sent by Nappa. Piccolo shares a link between another Namekian named Kame, who watches over the Earth. Kame also shares a link with the dragon balls, because he created them, and if Kame ever died, the dragon balls would disappear until he was brought back to life. When Piccolo dies, Kame dies along with him, thus the dragon balls disappear.

While Goku recovered from the fight, Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma took off for Namek to find another set of Dragon Balls and wish their friends back. They encounter Vegeta and Frieza's forces there, each looking for the Dragon Balls as well. As Goku heals later on, he races to Namek in a space pod, building up his power level with the help of gravitational forces.

Meanwhile Krillin and Gohan try to survive. Krillin and Gohan eventually team up with Vegeta to battle the Ginyu Force, Frieza's elite team of warriors. Just as all seems lost, Goku appears, more powerful than ever, and saves his friends from the Ginyu Force.

Frieza finally gathers all of the Dragon Balls, but they are stolen by Krillin and Gohan when he leaves for Guru's place to find out the password needed to operate the dragon balls and summon the Dragon. After the entire Ginyu Force is defeated, Goku begins recovering, Vegeta rests, Gohan guards the Dragon Balls, and Krillin leaves and returns with Dende, who gives them the password to summon the Dragon. Using two wishes, Piccolo is brought back to life, and transported to Namek. Before the third wish is made, Frieza kills Guru, which destroys the Dragon.

Frieza appears and fights the warriors, but with Goku still recovering, the have a tough time. Vegeta is the first to die. Goku finally appears, and when Krillin is killed by Frieza, Goku becomes outraged and transforms into a Super Saiyan. The new SSJ Goku begins to win the war with Freiza, but Freiza decided that if he couldn't win he would just blow up planet Namek, Goku and all. The thing was, Freiza can survive in space, but Goku would surely perish. Goku finally defeats Frieza, but disappears when the planet explodes. No one is aware if he survived, and if he did, nobody knows where he is at the moment...

Before Dragon Ball Z..

Before Dragon Ball Z came Dragon Ball, a series which followed the adventures of a young Goku as he travelled across the land encountering strange new challenges, and meeting the people he would one day call friends: Master Roshi, Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, Oolong, and the flying Nimbus.

The Future of Dragon Ball Z.. Here are some things we might have been able to look forward to in the future of Dragon Ball Z:

Goku and Vegeta's transformation into Super Saiyans.
Cell, a powerful biological weapon.
Gohan's adventures as the Great Saiyaman.
Goku's second son, Goten.
Goku and Vegeta's fusion into Gogeta.
The arrival of Trunks, Vegeta and Bulma's son from the future.
First and second season episodes are currently airing on The Cartoon Network.